Home
eLibrary
Disaster Related
Emergency Preparedness/Disaster Preparedness

Emergency Preparedness/Disaster Preparedness

For people who want to prepare for the possibility of an emergency or a disaster in their community, these agencies offer information and guidance on how to prepare:

American Red Cross Preparedness Information
http://www.redcross.org/
The Department of Homeland Security: The Ready Campaign
https://www.ready.gov/

Connecticut cities and towns Emergency Management Office’s handle “Special Needs Registries”, which maintain information about residents who may require assistance in the event of a disaster. People with disabilities, people who cannot drive, and people who do not have access to transportation are included. Participation in the Special Needs Registry is voluntary. These lists are solely for the purpose of assistance in an emergency and will not be shared for any other reason. Here is a link to the cities/towns who have Special Needs Registries.

Preparedness Tips for Connecticut Residents with Disabilities and Older Populations:

Ensure you have a support network and keep a contact list in a watertight container in your emergency kit. When creating your emergency kit, consider the unique needs you may have, such as for a service animal, medical equipment and more. Click here for Disability-Specific Tips from the Department of Aging and Disability Services.
Inform your support network where you keep your emergency supplies. You may want to consider giving one member a key to your house or apartment.
Be ready to explain to first responders that you need to evacuate and choose to go to a shelter with your family, service animal, caregiver, personal assistant and your assistive technology devices and supplies.
Plan ahead for accessible transportation that you may need for evacuation or getting to a medical clinic. Work with local services, public transportation or paratransit to identify your local or private accessible transportation options.
If you use a communications device or other assistive technologies, plan how you will evacuate with the devices or how you will replace equipment if lost or destroyed.
Plan how you will communicate with others if your equipment is not working, including laminated cards with phrases and/or pictogram.
Throughout a severe storm or hurricane have a plan to check on neighbors who may need assistance such as infants, children, older adults and people with disabilities. If you have immediate needs including food and shelter, state resources are available: To find 2-1-1 services available in your area or to search for resources, visit https://www.211ct.org/ or dial 2-1-1.

Before, during and after disaster events, such as major storms, it is important to stay informed and have a plan. For tips, emergency kit planning, communications needs preparedness materials in different languages and more download the CT Prepares App.

Businesses can help keep their employees and business safe by having an Emergency Action Plan and a Business Continuity Plan. The following links will help businesses enhance or develop Emergency Action and Business Continuity Plans:

From Ready.gov: https://www.ready.gov/business

From the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA):

http://www.osha.gov/SLTC/etools/evacuation/index.html

GENERAL INFORMATION:
Information on preparing for specific types of disasters can be found at the following websites:

HURRICANES
American Red Cross
https://www.redcross.org/

USA.gov (United States government information website)
https://www.ready.gov/hurricanes

THUNDERSTORMS

American Red Cross
https://www.redcross.org/

Federal Emergency Management Agency/Ready
https://www.ready.gov/

TORNADOES

American Red Cross
https://www.redcross.org/get-help/how-to-prepare-for-emergencies/types-of-emergencies/tornado.html

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
https://www.spc.noaa.gov/faq/tornado/

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
https://www.cdc.gov/disasters/tornadoes/index.html

WINTER STORMS

American Red Cross
https://www.redcross.org/

FEMA/Ready
https://www.ready.gov/

TO FIND PROVIDERS IN CONNECTICUT’S COMMUNITY RESOURCES DATABASE:

Search by service names:

————————
PREPARED BY: 211/ch
CONTENT LAST REVIEWED: October2024